Carmen Chávez grew up 10 minutes away from Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, frequently attending shows and summer camps while she was growing up. Now the group sales development specialist at CDT, she works with a variety of groups from local community education programs, families, and senior centers to student groups and group tours. Chávez recently shared a bit more with Group Tour about all that CDT has to offer groups.
Q. How would you describe CDT to someone who has never visited before?
A. CDT is the largest professional dinner theater in the country. Dinner theater combines two popular social activities: dining and entertainment. At CDT, guests enjoy a diverse selection of entrees served restaurant style and then a high quality, professional musical theater performance. Our dazzling performances and exceptional dining create memories that last a lifetime.
Photo courtesy of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
Q. What makes CDT a great place for group tours?
A. CDT is the perfect one-stop shop for groups! Guests at CDT leave full and happy after a complete four-and-a-half-hour-long experience including food and entertainment. This convenience makes CDT an ideal stop for tour groups visiting or passing through the Twin Cities metro area.
Q. How does CDT help tour operators plan their group tours?
A. Our goal is to make the booking process as easy as possible for our groups. Our delayed ticketing and payment plan allows groups to reserve optimistically while preventing paying for unnecessary tickets. No need to worry about collecting meal orders! Groups select their entrees at their tables on the day of the show. A seating list to assist tour operators in assigning seats is available upon request.
Photo courtesy of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
Q. Are there areas, themes, or activities you would like to promote to group tours? How and where can group tours discover and connect with those areas, themes, or activities?
A. We are best known for our Main Stage Broadway musicals that are locally produced. The group sales department will be able to give you the most up-to-date information about our current production schedule. Follow us on social media to get to know our current cast and learn more about all the fun things happening at CDT.
Q. What’s your long-term outlook for group tours at CDT?
A. CDT has been in the business of group travel for a long time. We treasure the strong relationships we have built with our returning customers, and we have the expertise to guide new tour operators through the process at the beginning of their careers. We realize that group travel is at an evolutionary point of growth, and we look forward to embracing the future and any changes in the industry that may come our way.
Photo courtesy of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
Q. Is there anything new or upcoming at CDT that group tour planners should know about?
A. CDT will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2028! We opened our doors in October of 1968 and have produced over 240 shows. Stay tuned for more information on this milestone anniversary in 2027. And, “Guys and Dolls” is returning to the CDT Main Stage for the first time in 30 years! The production will run from Feb. 13, 2026, through Sept. 26, 2026.
Q. Is there anything else our audience of tour operators should know about CDT?
A. We have three theaters under our roof in addition to the Main Stage. You’ll find our tribute Concert Series in our Fireside Theatres. Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret presents improv comedy shows every Friday and Saturday night in our Playhouse Theatre. The Club Theatre is available for groups to rent for weddings, Mitzvahs, birthday parties, pre-theater cocktail hours, or any event you can think of. And, fun fact: Our president and artistic director, Tamara Kangas Erickson, started her career as a child actress at CDT!
Learn More
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
chanhassendt.com
groupsales@chanhassendt.com
(952)-934-1547
